I work for you — not the insurer. As an independent consultant at Hamilton + Partners, I help Alberta employers cut through the noise, control their costs, and build benefits plans that protect their people for decades, not just during the good times.
As an independent group benefits consultant at Hamilton + Partners, I offer a full range of advisory services for Alberta employers — from setting up your first plan to optimizing a plan you have had for years.
Group Benefits Renewal Audits
Is your renewal working for you — or just for the insurer? I conduct a thorough review of your existing renewal, benchmarking rates, credibility factors, and loss ratios to determine whether you are getting fair value or leaving savings on the table.
Marketing of Benefits Plans for New Businesses
Starting your first group benefits plan is one of the most impactful things you can do for your team. I guide new businesses through carrier selection, plan design, and implementation — so your first plan is built right from day one.
Group Retirement & Pension Plans
From Group RRSPs and DPSPs to more complex pension arrangements, I help employers build retirement programs that attract and retain top talent while aligning with your long-term financial goals.
Specialty Travel Insurance
Whether your employees travel internationally for work or leisure, I can source and implement group travel insurance solutions that provide comprehensive out-of-country coverage — including emergency medical, trip cancellation, and assistance services.
Health Spending Account Activation
An HSA gives your employees flexibility while giving you cost predictability. I handle the full setup and activation of Healthcare Spending Accounts, including carrier selection, employee communication, and ongoing administration support.
Foreign Worker Temporary Benefit Implementation
Bringing in foreign workers comes with unique benefits obligations. I help Alberta employers navigate the requirements and implement compliant temporary benefit solutions that meet LMIA and immigration program standards.
Group Benefit Utilization Reporting
Data is your most underused asset in benefits management. I provide detailed utilization reports that break down claims by benefit category, identify cost drivers, and inform smarter plan design decisions at your next renewal.
Not sure where to start?
Book a free one-hour session — no obligation, no jargon, just honest answers.
AI will automate the administrative backbone of group benefits — but it will simultaneously raise the stakes for human judgment. Discover how the consultant role evolves, and why employers who understand this shift will have a decisive advantage.
Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats. Understanding group benefits and group retirement planning should not require a law degree. That is why I offer free one-hour sessions designed specifically for small business owners.
How It Works
1
Free 1-Hour Session
We meet — in person or virtually. You bring your questions. I bring honest, jargon-free answers about your current plan, your costs, and what your options are.
2
Free Benefits Audit
I review your current plan, renewal history, and claims experience. You receive a clear, written summary of where you stand — and where you could be saving money or improving coverage.
3
Ongoing Strategic Advice
If we are a good fit, I become your long-term advisor — managing renewals, benchmarking your plan, and keeping your benefits aligned with your business as it grows.
What We Cover
Do I really need a group benefits plan?
How many employees to qualify?
What is the right benefits package?
How much will a plan cost my business?
Can employees share in the cost?
What is a Healthcare Spending Account?
Do employees need disability insurance?
Which carrier is right for my business?
Broker vs. consultant — what is the difference?
Group RRSP and retirement planning basics
What happens when I hire or let someone go?
How to benchmark your current plan
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Group Benefits Education
Learn what is available, what it costs, and what your employees actually value.
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Group Retirement Planning
From Group RRSPs to DPSPs — help your team build financial security.
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Free 1-Hour Session
No Cost · No Obligation · No Jargon
Bring your questions — whether you are starting your first plan, reviewing an existing one, or just trying to understand what you are paying for.
Short reads on group benefits for Alberta employers
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Client Feedback
What Alberta Employers Say
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“Chris made our renewal process simple and stress-free. Everything was clearly explained, and we felt confident in the decisions we made.”
Mike M.
Founder — District Homes
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“Chris took the time to review our plan and ended up saving us money without cutting coverage. It was an easy win for our business.”
Chace A.
Owner — Branded Welding
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“What stood out was how honest and low-pressure Chris was. He gave us great advice and let us make the decision without any sales push.”
Evan P.
Owner — Climate Pro Heating & Cooling
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything Alberta employers ask before starting or reviewing a group benefits plan.
A group benefits plan is a contract between an employer and an insurance carrier that provides extended health care, dental care, disability insurance, and life insurance to employees and their dependants. The employer pays monthly premiums and employees submit claims for eligible expenses. Plans are available to businesses with as few as two full-time employees.
For a small Alberta business with 5 to 10 employees, a comprehensive group benefits plan typically costs between $200 and $500 per employee per month, depending on coverage levels, employee demographics, and whether family coverage is included. Costs vary based on plan design choices such as dental maximums, paramedical limits, and disability coverage.
Most Canadian insurance carriers offer group benefits plans to businesses with as few as two full-time employees. At five or more employees you gain access to a wider range of plan designs and carriers. At ten employees you typically qualify for full group underwriting with competitive rates from all major carriers including Canada Life, Sun Life, and Manulife.
A Healthcare Spending Account gives each employee a fixed dollar amount — for example $1,500 per year — to spend on any eligible health or dental expense as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency. Unlike traditional insurance, employees choose what to claim with no co-insurance. HSAs are popular with Alberta small businesses because they are cost-predictable for employers and highly flexible for employees.
A group benefits broker is licensed to sell insurance products from multiple carriers and typically earns commissions from the insurer. A benefits consultant takes a broader advisory role — analyzing your workforce, benchmarking your plan, and providing ongoing strategic guidance focused on your long-term outcomes. As an independent consultant at Hamilton + Partners, I work in the employer's interest, not the insurer's.
Going to market — shopping your benefits across multiple insurers — is often the last thing you should do, not the first. When multiple consultants go to market simultaneously, each insurer releases only one quote per employer, so additional consultants simply divide the same quotes. Best practice is to first negotiate your current renewal, review plan design, and only go to market if other strategies have been exhausted.
The best carrier depends on your group size, industry, workforce demographics, and plan priorities. Canada Life leads in market share. Manulife is strong on digital tools and claims speed. Sun Life is popular for its employee-facing app. As an independent consultant I run objective comparisons across all major carriers to find the right fit for your specific situation.
A Third Party Administrator is a platform that lets employers purchase different benefit lines from multiple insurers while receiving a single consolidated bill and one benefits card. TPAs give employers access to the entire market without managing multiple carrier relationships — and are particularly valuable for optimizing costs by selecting the most competitive carrier for each benefit category.
